EP2335794B1 - Fluid retention device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a fluid retention device, hereinafter referred to briefly as a restraint device, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Liquid separation devices (separation device) as a special form of a retaining device, in particular for at least two liquids which have different specific weights from each other and are substantially immiscible or only slightly miscible, are well known. This exploits the fact that the liquid with the lower specific weight, ie the lighter liquid, collects above the liquid with the higher specific gravity, that is to say the heavier liquid, and thus forms two superimposed phases after a rest period. From the respective phase, the corresponding liquid can then be recovered substantially pure. In one example of a conventional separation device, here an open-topped oil separator, an oblique rainfall directs rainwater into a backwashing chamber so that it fills faster than a catch tank containing oil. Although this initially prevents parts of the floating on the collecting rainwater oil film from reaching the backwash in rain, but occurs when a liquid level in the collecting container had a partition between the backwashing and collecting tank initially exceeded, at a later decrease in the liquid level Oil also in the backwash over. A big part of this Oil does not re-fill the backwash along a guide wall of the rain catch back into the receptacle and contaminates the effluent from the backwash water. Such a device is in the DE 102 55 750 A described. From the EP 0389 275 A For example, a separation device having an inlet and two outlets is known, wherein two flow paths are formed within the separation device and the outlets are at the end of a respective flow path. From the US 2005/0072738 A For example, a separation and drainage apparatus for road construction or the like is known.

Moreover, such separation devices disregard the fact that a phase separation presupposed there for the achievable effect is frequently not given, e.g. when the specific gravity of both fluids are similar, e.g. for water having a specific gravity of 1.0 or at least approximately 1.0 and ester oil having a specific gravity of 0.977. Such liquids segregate only after a relatively long rest period and only then form separate phases. Until separation, both liquids are present as an emulsion. Especially when in the collecting container, the liquid level rises due to rain, resulting from the constant impact of raindrops on the liquid surface mixing, so an emulsion of the water with the oil. In the known separating device described above, therefore, at least whenever the liquid to be separated from the water, e.g. Ester oil, with water in emulsion, just not to a deposit and it flows instead of the emulsion. The intended protection of the respective environment from contamination by oil or the like thus does not occur.

The invention is therefore an object of the o. G. Disadvantages to avoid or at least reduce their impact.

The object is achieved with the features of claim 1. This is in a restraint device with a collector (eg., Rainfall), in particular a ramp component, and an adjoining inlet, so z. B. on or in the ramp component formed inlet, a drain opening and a barrier, a channel provided subsequent to the collector, wherein the channel begins in the region of the inlet and terminates in a remaining free on a bottom of the barrier passage. Furthermore, the drain opening is located in the channel above the passage, and the inlet is above the drain opening.

With the retention device, it is possible to prevent the outflow (retention) of a first liquid, for example oil, which, due to a smaller specific weight compared with a second liquid, settles thereon or is in emulsion with it. In addition, if the two liquids are not mixed, with the retaining device and such a first liquid from a second liquid can be separated. The first liquid is preferably a light liquid, for. As oil, especially ester oil, light oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, benzene or the like, and the second liquid is z. B. water or the like. The description is continued for better understanding, but without giving up the wider meaning, for oil as the first liquid and water as the second liquid. Upon retention or separation, water passes through the passageway into the channel and exits the channel through or over the drainage port. An entry of oil into the channel and / or passage is prevented or removed registered oil, since the inlet is arranged above the drain opening and the drain opening above the passage. Water that enters the retaining device via the inlet, thus flushes the channel and keeps so far oil or the like from the passage, but at least from the drain opening. The rinsing effect results from the fact that the width of the channel and / or the passage is chosen to be sufficiently small or so that set sufficient flow rates in the channel for the intended rinsing effect. When the restraint device for separation a first liquid from a second liquid is used, a designation as a separator is also justified. However, the description will continue with the name of the device as a restraint.

The restraint device may be positioned in or combined with a collection container. If the receptacle is open at the top, this can easily under a device or an aggregate, which or which emits the first liquid, ie z. As an engine or the like, the oil, gasoline or diesel fuel gives as a dripping amount, are positioned so that the first liquid drains or drips into the receptacle.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. This used backlinks point to the further development of the subject matter of the main claim by the features of the respective subclaim; they should not be construed as a waiver of obtaining independent, objective protection for the feature combinations of the dependent claims. Furthermore, with a view to an interpretation of the claims in a closer specification of a feature in a subordinate claim, it is to be assumed that such a restriction does not exist in the respective preceding claims.

In one embodiment, the channel is inclined upwards. The slope of the channel can improve the flushing effect. It can further be provided that the drain opening is arranged in an upwardly directed side wall (upper side) of the upwardly inclined channel, which ensures that liquid introduced through the inlet does not run off again through the drain opening.

According to a further embodiment, the barrier is widened in the region of the passage. The barrier thus adjoins the channel and thus at least partially determines its shape, in particular cross section. For example, a side wall of the barrier is identical to a side wall of the channel. This reduces costs.

In a further embodiment, to widen the barrier, a lower part thereof has a convex, in particular polygonal geometry. In particular, the lower part is formed as a triangle, so that a flow-through length of the passage is increased and the passage thus becomes a channel section adjoining the channel. Furthermore, a not adjacent to the channel side wall of the barrier forms a separator surface. At this, an ascent path of droplets of the first liquid is shortened by the second liquid, which improves a phase separation.

In yet another embodiment, in the case of a triangular geometry of the lower part of the barrier-the lower part of the barrier-a base section of the triangular locking base adjoins the passage, which ensures a particularly simple and cost-effective construction. However, the lower part of the barrier may also adjoin the passage if the lower part has a polygonal geometry other than the triangular geometry.

Preferably, the barrier is dimensioned in a vertical orientation such that an upper end point of the barrier results above the channel. Thus, the barrier forms a guiding device for the inlet and determines the liquid volume which can be retained in the collecting container.

Preferably, the retaining device comprises a below the barrier, that is below the passage, arranged threshold. By means of the threshold, it is ensured that at a low filling level of the collecting container, the first and / or second liquid does not enter the passage.

Particularly preferably, the threshold on an upper side on a portion of the channel forming surface. This is particularly cost-effective and saves weight because it dispenses with a separate component.

The surface is particularly preferably arranged horizontally, which simplifies manufacture. Alternatively, the surface may be inclined downward from the channel. This is advantageous if the collecting container z. B. is filled only to below the threshold, since so in the passage existing liquid or residues of first and / or second liquid are particularly well away from the channel.

In the case of a liquid flowing in via the ramp, in particular rainwater, this flows from the inlet to the outlet and thus rinses the channel or the channel and the passage particularly well and / or prevents the first liquid or an emulsion of both liquids from entering the passage and / or or channel. Thus, the water discharged through the drain hole can not be contaminated with oil or the like.

More preferably, one of the drain opening downstream collection tray is provided for expired water. In the drip tray, this is retained at least temporarily and is thus available, for example, for a purity check or, if necessary, via the ramp component again the restraint device are supplied as rinsing liquid.

The restraint device and / or components thereof as described above and below may be made of metal, e.g. As steel, especially stainless steel, aluminum or the like, but it is also possible to produce the restraint and / or components of other suitable materials or to coat them with other materials. For example, plastics which, however, must be resistant to the first and second liquids are suitable because of lower material costs in comparison to e.g. As stainless steel, ease of processing by pressing, casting, gluing or the like, their low weight and long life particularly good.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. Corresponding objects or elements are provided in all figures with the same reference numerals.

The or each embodiment is not to be understood as limiting the invention. Rather, numerous modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the present disclosure, in particular those variants and combinations, for example, by combination or modification of individual features described in the general or specific description part as well as in the claims and / or the drawing Elements or process steps for the expert with regard to the solution of the problem can be removed and lead by combinable features to a new subject or to new process steps or process steps.

Fig. 1

eine schematisch vereinfachte Darstellung eines Längsschnitts einer Flüssigkeits-Abscheidevorrichtung gemäß dem Stand der Technik und

Fig. 2

eine schematisch vereinfachte Darstellung eines Längsschnitts einer Rückhaltevorrichtung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

Show it

Fig. 1

a simplified schematic representation of a longitudinal section of a liquid separation device according to the prior art and

Fig. 2

a simplified schematic representation of a longitudinal section of a retaining device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a schematically simplified representation of a longitudinal section of a liquid separation device 10 according to the prior art with a functioning as a rain ramp component 12 and an adjoining inlet 14 in a backwashing 16, which is delimited against a collecting container 18 by means of a first partition wall 20, so that the inlet 14 is also open to the collecting container 18.

The backwash chamber 16 is further bounded by a second partition wall 22 which is higher than the first partition wall 20 and which forms an overflow edge 24 located above the inlet 14, via which liquid can drain from the backwashing chamber 16. A baffle 26 connected to the ramp member 12 extends downwardly from the inlet 14 and partially below the ramp member 12 into the backflush 16. The baffle 26 forms with the second partition 22 a passageway 28 below the inlet 14. Thus, the overflow edge 24 is the second above the inlet 14 and this arranged above the passage opening 28. The overflow edge 24 leads into a collecting trough 30, which has a drain 32 arranged below the drain opening.

Fig. 2 shows a schematically simplified representation of a longitudinal section of a retaining device 10 according to an embodiment of the invention with the ramp component 12, wherein the ramp component 12 is shown as representative of all suitable collectors, and an adjoining inlet 14 for a channel 34. The channel 34, which in the area of the inlet 14 begins, flows into a remaining at an underside 36 of a barrier 38 remaining passage 40, so that the inlet 14 is above the passage 40. In the channel 34 is a drain opening 41 below the inlet 14 and above the passage 40th

In the in Fig. 2 illustrated embodiment includes the sump 30 with outlet 32 to the drain opening 41. In an optional embodiment which is not shown, an overflow wall may be provided in the drip pan 30, which defines an antechamber between the latter and the restraint 10. An upper edge of such an overflow wall would be located above the drainage opening 41. Such an overflow wall and pre-chamber formed by this before the drain 32 may be useful if means, such as a valve, are provided to automatically close the drain 32. A sensor for controlling the valve could be arranged in the pre-chamber, so that any - here for whatever reason - resulting impurity leads to the closing of the valve and thus in any case an escape of contamination is reliably prevented.

The barrier 38 is widened in the region of the passage 40 so that it is formed in a lower part as a triangle (in cross-section), the underside 36 of which borders on the passage 40. A first side wall 46 of the barrier 38 is adjacent to the channel 34, which is upwardly inclined. A second side wall 48 of the barrier forms a separator surface adjacent to the passage 40. An end point 49 of the barrier 38 is located above of the channel 34, so that the barrier 38 forms a guide device for the inlet 14.

In the embodiment illustrated here, the restraint 10 comprises a threshold 50 located below the barrier 38 with a top surface 52 having a surface forming a portion of the channel 34.

In rain, the rainwater flows from the ramp component 12 through the inlet 14 into the channel 34, past the drain opening 41 and to the passage 40. From the passage 40 it passes into the collecting container 18 and thus flushes possibly in the channel 34 or in the passage 40 existing first liquid or an emulsion with the first liquid back into the collecting container 18. This fills, even by rainwater from above, and even if the liquid level in the collecting container 18 up to a lower edge of the second side wall 48, ie via the passage 40, increases the first liquid (also in emulsion with the second liquid) does not re-enter the passage 40, since the rainwater flowing in from the ramp component 12 keeps the first liquid away from the passage 40. As soon as an emulsion with the first liquid or a phase formed by the first liquid is above the passage 40, only water from the collecting container 18 into the passage 40; the danger that the first liquid gets in is therefore banned. It is therefore, due to the arrangement of inlet 14, drain opening 41 and passage 40, when water flows through the ramp member 12 in the inlet 14, possibly present first liquid through the channel 34 and away from the drain opening 41 through the passage 40 or flushed prevented from entering the channel 34 through the passage 40 therethrough. Thus, the water discharged through the drainage port 41 can not be contaminated with oil or the like. The channel 34 and / or the passage 40 are in terms of their size so dimensioned - so small - that the rainwater introduced at high speed and high pressure through channel 34 and passage 40 flows, thereby causing the removal or removal of the first liquid or an emulsion with the first liquid at least in the channel 34. To increase the amount of water flowing through channel 34 and passage 40, additional collection surfaces (not shown) may be added to the collector, eg ramp component 12. The surface of the or each such collecting surface increases as it were the surface of the collector and accordingly increases in rainfall, the amount of water with which the channel 34 and the passage 40 are flushed.

Not shown is a special embodiment in which a valve is provided in the drain 32. The valve is preferably an electrically controllable valve. The control of the valve is due to a sensor with which, for example, either a pressure drop in a positioned in the receptacle 18 aggregate or contamination of the liquid in the collecting container 18, in the retaining device 10 or before the drain 32 is sensed. Due to a corresponding sensor signal, a control of the valve takes place, so that the outlet 32 is closed. With the valve almost complete security in the prevention of contamination by leaking oil or the like is guaranteed. The addition of the retaining device 10 to such a valve, which may be provided in the rest, for example, in the drain opening 41 or subsequent to this, especially comes into consideration when particularly high security requirements are to be met and the guarantee given to avoid Contamination due to the hydrodynamic conditions resulting with the retainer with channel 34 and passage 40 should not be considered sufficient. The valve can be made heated, so that, for example, at temperatures around the freezing point, a heating of the valve can take place or automatically carried out to ensure its permanent readiness for operation. Even for the restraint device 10 itself is a Heizbarkeit or section-wise Heizbarkeit, as outlined above for the valve into consideration. The valve is preferably designed as a normally open valve. This is based on the finding that such a valve is normally always open and, accordingly, activation should only take place in a special situation indicated by the sensor signal. The normally not required flow of the valve thus avoids otherwise required energy consumption and thus fits seamlessly into the concept of also usable for environmental protection restraint. For sensing a possible pressure drop is any conventional pressure sensor into consideration. The possible sensing of a pressure drop is an at least indirect detection of an impurity in front of the restraint device, because the pressure drop indicates a leak or the like and such leakage normally causes contamination thus indirectly detected; the detection of a pressure drop can thus be understood as a detection of contamination. To sense any impurities in, before or after the retention device, for example, a sensor is considered, which determines the electrical conductivity of the respective liquid. A signal for controlling the valve is generated in such a sensor at a deviation of the sensed conductivity of an expected conductivity by more than a predetermined or predeterminable threshold.

Thus, the invention can be briefly described as follows: Specified is a retaining device 10 with a collector, in particular a ramp component 12, and an adjoining inlet 14, a drain opening 41 and a barrier 38, with a channel 34 in the connection to the collector, which begins in the region of the inlet 14 and terminates in a remaining at an underside of the barrier 38 passage 40, wherein the drain opening 41 is located in the channel 34 above the passage 40 and wherein the inlet 14 is above the drain opening 41.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Restraint

12

ramp component

14

Intake

16

backwash

18

receptacle

20

first partition

22

second partition

24

Overflow edge

26

baffle

28

Through opening

30

drip tray

32

procedure

34

channel

36

Bottom (of a lock)

38

barrier

40

passage

41

drain hole

46

first sidewall

48

second side wall

49

upper endpoint (the lock)

50

threshold

52

Top (the threshold)

Claims (9)

1. Retention device (10) having a collector, in particular a ramp component (12), and an inlet (14) connected thereto, a discharge opening (41) and a barrier (38),
   characterized by
   a channel (34) connected to the collector which begins in the region of the inlet (14) and ends in a passage (40) which is left open at an underside of the barrier (38),
   wherein the discharge opening (41) lies in the channel (34) above the passage (40),
   wherein the inlet (14) lies above the discharge opening (41), and
   wherein the barrier (38) is widened in the region of the passage (40).
2. The retention device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channel (34) is inclined upwards.
3. The retention device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein, in order to widen the barrier (38), a bottom part thereof has a convex, in particular polygonal, geometry, in particular is designed in the form of a triangle.
4. The retention device as claimed in claim 3, wherein, in the case of a triangular geometry of the bottom part of the barrier (38), a base section of the triangular barrier bottom part borders the passage (40).
5. The retention device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein, in its vertical orientation, the barrier (38) is sized so that an upper end point (49) of the barrier (38) is situated above the channel (34).
6. The retention device as claimed in one of the preceding claims having a sill (50) arranged below the barrier (38).
7. The retention device as claimed in claim 6, wherein, on a top side (52), the sill (50) has a surface which forms a section of the channel (34).
8. The retention device as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein when liquid, in particular rain water, flows in over the ramp (12), this liquid flows from the inlet (14) to the passage (40).
9. The retention device as claimed in one of the preceding claims having an electrically controllable valve in the discharge opening (41) or subsequent thereto, wherein an electrical signal for controlling the valve can be generated as a result of a contamination of a liquid in the retention device or in the flow direction before or after the retention device.

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